Letter to the editor: Our incivility & disunity

Some may believe the causes of the anger, distrust and infighting experienced in America today are solely the result of social media or some other singular cause. I propose that what we are experiencing (regardless of political persuasion) involves a multifaceted, long-term and complex set of circumstances. The question may be whether these circumstances are the result of pure chance, natural evolution or some carefully orchestrated plot by a mysterious far left or far right conspiracy.

Step 1: Destroy, downplay or diminish the family, parental roles and authority. Blur the roles of men and women by trying to make them interchangeable in every regard. (See much of today’s TV and movies.)

Step 2: Eliminate common sense as a means to solve problems or make decisions. Force family/personal decisions into the hands of some outside “higher authority” who should have no business in a family’s affairs.

Step 3: Allow different rules for every individual in every circumstance, thus making no one accountable for their actions.

Finally, blur the lines between right and wrong. If these are not clearly defined, then there can be no rule-breakers. Everyone gets a pass, regardless of their actions — and then add all other exemptions/excuses we’ve created for not following society’s rules.

The role of TV, internet and other media, schools, and other social engineers cannot be minimized in this decline of civility and cultural unity. But we need to understand there are much more complex circumstances in play.

Tim Kaczmarek

Natrona Heights